Hurdle washer



Aug. 22, 1944. D. D. cox 2,356,653

` HURDLE WASHER l Filed Deo. 16, 1942 2 sheets-sheet4 1f FIB 1;

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HURDLE WASHER Aug. 22, 1944.

Filed Dec. 16, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 f@ ff .illllllls ig f5 lf@ FISA.

IN VEN TOR.'

Patented Aug. 22, 1944 HURDLE WASHER' f Y :Davis D. Cox,vvFairfield,Ala., assignor-tovTennessee l Coal, 'Iron & .Railroad CompanygaYcorporation of Tennessee Application December' 16, 1'942,"Serial NOSIIGZ? Y Z Claims.

This invention relates to hurdle washers and more particularly to afilling for use in packing wet tower type scrubbers. These scrubbers areextensively used in the by-product coke and petroleum industries for theremoval of a gas or vapor of a liquid miscible in all proportions withthe scrubbing liquid, as illustrated by the removal of light oils fromcoke oven gas.

A conventional scrubber consists of a tall steel shell in which thefilling is packed in layers of desired thickness. The gas to be scrubbedis admitted at the bottom and passes upwardly through the lling andleaves the top of the unit. The scrubbing medium or absorbent liquid ispumped to the top of the scrubb-er and is distributed uniformly over thetop surface of the lling and ows downwardly through the same. As itcomes in contact with the ascending gas, it absorbes the light oilcomponent.

Coke, tile, wood or steel shavings, expanded metal lath and sectionalwood trays have been used for packing materials. The hurdle sections areplaced in layers one above the other to the desired height. In mosttypes of lling, the open area of scrubber for the passage of gas andabsorbent medium is approximately 50% of the scrubber area, and thus ahigh pressure drop is experienced. Increased scrubbing efliciency isobtained through breaking up the gas into more finely divided streams,increasing the absorbing wetted area of the filling, and eliminatingstagnant lms of gas or liquid on the surface of the filling material.

An object of the invention is to greatly increase the wetted area of thescrubber lling.

Another object is to provide a filling having a low pressure losstherethrough.

Still another object is to increase the efficiency of the scrubber.

These and other objects will be more apparent from the following detailsof disclosure when read in connection with the attached drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a scrubber embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan showing the arrangement of hurdles in the scrubber;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a hurdle section;

Fig. 4 is an end View of the hurdle section and Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the arrangement of the hurdles.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 indicates avertical tower scrubber.

The gas to be cleaned enters the tower at 4, passes up through thehurdles 6 and out of the tower at 8. The scrubbing medium from thesprays lll passes down through the hurdles absorbing light oil componentfrom the gas, and then pass-es out of the bottom of the tower.

The hurdle consists of a plurality of layers of vertical parallelplates. The rst layer of plates are laid at right angles to the I-beamsI2 and each succeeding layer is laid at an angle of between 20 and 70degrees to the layer beneath as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Eachlayer of hurdles consists of a plurality of sections A as best shown inFig. 2. VEach hurdle section consists of Ia plurality of plates I4arranged as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each plate hasarcrimp or valley I6 therein. On each side of this valley there aresubstantially straight portions I8 and 20, having a plurality of spacers22 thereon. Each spacer has a hole 24 therein. The portion I8 has holes26 in the outer portion thereof and portion 20 has similar holesadjacent the valley portion. The spacers in portion I8 are formedadjacent the valley portion and those in portion 20 adjacent the edge ofthe plate. The spacers and holes are symmetrical with respect to thevertical center line of the plate and so formed that upon turning thetop to the bottom the holes 2B will match with the holes 24.

In assembling the hurdle section the first plate is placed in positionwith the portion 20 lower.- most. The next plate has the portionuppermost. The third plate is arranged the same as the rst. Thisarrangement is continued until the entire section has been arranged asshown in Fig, 3. By this arrangement each of the spacers 22 arestaggered and therefore determine the.

horizontal distance between the plates. The plates are fastened togetherby means of rods 28 which pass through the holes in the plates as shown.Washers 30 are welded to the ends of the rods to hold the plates inassembled position.

The operation of the hurdle is as follows: As the gas ascends throughthe hurdles the crimp or valley produces three changes in the directionof gas flow, as indicated by the arrows a, b, and c in Fig. 3, thusbreaking up the gas stream and causing impingement against the wettedsurfaces of the plates. stagnant films of gas and absorbent, and bringsthem into direct and intimate contact, thus obtaining maximum absorptionfor unit area. Since there are no horizont-al surfaces therein, thereare no deposits of carbonaceous material which ordinarily clog thegasand oil passages. The vertical surfaces also enable the units to be Thisgreatly reduces theV cleaned by steaming or washing. By making thehurdles in sections as shown in Fig. 2, they may be easily handled inassembling and one section may be replaced at a time.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other modifications and adaptations may be madewithout departing from the scope of the attached claims.V

I claim: y

1. A hurdle section of the class described comprising a plurality ofplates, each of said plates having a valley portion centrally disposedtherein and a relatively straight vertical portion on each side thereof,at least onespacer on each 15 vertical portion, the spacers of oneportion being adjacent the end of the plate land the spacers of theother portion being adjacent the valley portion, the plates beingarranged in vertical Y position.

parallel rows with the last named portion at the top in alternate plates'and means for fastening the plates together.

2. A hurdle section of the class described comprising a plurality ofplates, each of said plates having a valley portion centrally disposedtherein and a relatitvely straight vertical portion on each sidethereof, at least one spacer lon each vertical portion, the spacers ofone portion being adjacent-the end of the plate and the spacers of theother portion being adjacent the valley portion, the plates beingarranged in vertical parallel rows with the last named portion at thetop in alternate plates, the straight portions and spacers having holestherein for receiving a rod when in assembled position, and meansattached to the rod for holding the plates in assembled DAVIS D. COX.

